OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 12, 2013) - The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, made the following statement today, on the occasion of the 10th anniversaries of the Canada Border Services Agency and Public Safety Canada, the department created to ensure coordination across federal departments and agencies responsible for national security and the safety of Canadians.

"I am very pleased to mark the 10th anniversaries of Public Safety Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. These two organizations have shown incredible resilience to change over the past 10 years, and continue to evolve to keep our communities safe.

Over the past decade, CBSA has been dedicated to protecting Canada's security and supporting its economic prosperity through its longstanding work on cross-border trade and integrated border services initiatives.

Public Safety Canada was created out of an understanding that the world had changed, and that we too would need to change to foster more efficient and effective coordination amongst departments and agencies tasked with protecting the safety of Canadians.

The department provides national leadership in the development and implementation of policies, plans and a range of programs. These efforts strengthen Canada's emergency management system, create a sustainable and strong policing model for the future, secure our borders and facilitate trade, address terrorism, bolster our cyber networks and critical infrastructure, strengthen our criminal and justice systems and support crime prevention efforts.

In the 10 years since their inception, Public Safety Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency have matured as organizations, with a presence across Canada from coast to coast to coast. As we look forward, I am confident that Public Safety Canada and the CBSA will continue to play important roles in building a safe and resilient Canada. I congratulate Public Safety Canada and the CBSA on this milestone, and would like to extend my personal thanks to all of the employees who play a part in making Canada a safer, more prosperous country."